TWI674351B - Front pull latch - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a latch capable of unlocking by applying a force on a front handle of a drawer or other accessories. The latch includes an end cover that interacts with the cam surface of the main body and thus disengages the hook from the opening on the lock plate or cabinet. When the hook is disengaged, the latch can allow the accessory to open. The latch therefore allows a simple forward movement to open and lock the latch, and also allows the latch to be used on many different accessories.

Description

   Pull-up latch   

The invention generally belongs to a latch. More specifically, the present invention relates to a latch that can be unlocked by a pulling action on the front of a cabinet drawer or other accessory.

A latch is a common mechanical device that allows selective locking or unlocking of drawers, cabinets, or other accessories. The latch may include a lock hook that is engageable with an opening in the cabinet or lock plate. The lock hook keeps the attachment in the closed position when the lock hook and the opening are engaged (eg, locked or locked), and the hook allows the attachment to open when the hook is disengaged from the opening (eg, unlocked or unlocked). Various latches have different mechanisms for allowing the hooks to selectively engage.

For some latches, including many that exist in toolboxes or rolling cabinets, it may be difficult to open and close accessories for the latch. Many accessories do not include a simple and comfortable method of unlocking the latch to allow the accessory to be opened, but require the use of two hands or difficult movements to unlock the hook to allow the accessory to be opened.

Although other latches open simply and comfortably, they require special structures to implement latches on attachments. For example, some latches can be unlocked using the force exerted by the front handle of the drawer of the rolling cabinet. However, such a latch would require special molds in the rolling cabinet itself, requiring additional costs and smaller applicability of the latch.

The invention broadly includes latches that can be unlocked using a force applied to a front handle of a drawer, typically used, for example, when opening a drawer. The latch includes an end cover having a component that interacts with the cam surface of the main body to selectively engage and disengage the latch when receiving a force on the accessory handle. The latch therefore allows simple and comfortable movements to open and close the latch while also being able to be inserted into a variety of different accessories.

In one embodiment, the invention broadly includes a latch including an end cap having a component, a body having a cam surface engaged with the component, and the body is straight inward as the component rotates against the cam surface. mobile. The main body also includes a lock hook that engages or disengages from the opening based on the linear movement of the main body, the spring biases the main body in an outward direction, the support receives the main body and has a base, The abutment is used to receive the spring to bias the body in an outward direction.

Another embodiment broadly includes an attachment with a latch having an end cap with a component, a body having a cam surface engaged with the component, and the body is straight inward as the component rotates against the cam surface mobile. The main body also includes a lock hook that engages or disengages from the opening based on the linear movement of the main body, the spring biases the main body in an outward direction, the support receives the main body and has a base, The abutment is used to receive the spring to bias the body in an outward direction. Also included are a handle coupled to the latch at the end cap and an accessory body that receives the handle and latch.

Another embodiment broadly includes a method of opening an attachment, including providing a latch including an end cap having a component, a body having a cam surface engaged with the component, and the body being rotated against the cam surface when the component is rotated. Move straight inward; the main body also includes a lock hook, a spring, and a support that engages or disengages from the opening based on the linear movement of the main body, the spring biases the main body in an outward direction, and the support receives the main body It also has a base for receiving the spring to bias the body in an outward direction. The method also includes rotating a handle coupled to the end cap, and disengaging the lock hook from the opening when the handle is rotated.

100‧‧‧ Latch

105‧‧‧ end cap

110‧‧‧ main body

115‧‧‧spring

120‧‧‧ support

125‧‧‧ parts

130‧‧‧ cam surface

132‧‧‧lock hook

135‧‧‧ extension

140‧‧‧ abutment

145‧‧‧the first cam surface

150‧‧‧second cam surface

155‧‧‧ stick out

160‧‧‧hole

165‧‧‧ raised

170‧‧‧ front

175‧‧‧ opening

180‧‧‧handle

185‧‧‧Drawer body

In order to facilitate the understanding of the claimed subject matter, its embodiments will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. When understood in conjunction with the following description, the claimed subject matter, its structure, operation, and its advantages should be understood without doubt. And understand.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a latch in at least some embodiments according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a latch not installed in a front portion of a drawer in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention; A perspective view of a latch not installed in a handle and a drawer in at least some embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view showing the latch and the handle are inserted into the latch, the handle, and the drawer according to at least some embodiments of the present invention; Partially exploded perspective view of the drawer; FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the latch with the handle inserted into the drawer when the latch is in the closed or locked position; FIG. 6 is the latch with the handle inserted into the drawer when the latch is in the open or unlocked position Front perspective view.

Although the invention allows many different forms of embodiments, the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, and it is to be understood that this embodiment is an example of the principles of the invention and is not intended to be The broad aspects of the invention are limited to the illustrated embodiments. As used herein, the term "present invention" is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is a term that discusses exemplary embodiments of the invention for exemplary purposes only.

The present invention broadly includes a latch that is designed to be able to be opened with the force exerted on the front handle of a drawer or other accessory. The latch includes an end cap which, upon receiving a force on the handle of the accessory, interacts with the cam surface of the body to selectively engage and disengage the latch's hook. The latch can therefore be unlocked with the force applied to the front of the accessory handle, and can also be inserted into a variety of different accessories.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the latch 100 may include an end cover 105 that is engaged with a main body 110 that is biased by a spring 115 and supported by a support 120. The end cover 105 may include a component 125 abutting the cam surface 130 of the main body 110. When the end cover 105 rotates, the main body 110 is moved inward in a straight line to resist the bias of the spring 115. In doing so, the main body 110 can remove the locking hook 132 from the locking plate or from an opening in another main body such as the cabinet itself. When the user chooses to lock the latch 100, the inclined surface of the locking hook 132 will re-engage with the locking plate or cabinet (or other opening), and will bias the spring 110 of the main body 110 and the locking hook 132 outward as the biasing Locked.

By providing a latch mechanism in the end cover 105, the latch 100 can be selectively locked (or locked) or unlocked (or unlocked) by pulling the handle of the drawer or accessory forward, as will be described in more detail below. This structure is therefore able to allow a forward pulling action to unlock the latch and open the attachment, and also allows the latch to be inserted into various attachments for added flexibility.

The spring 115 can be supported on the extension 135 of the main body 110 to prevent the spring 115 from disengaging from the latch 100 or otherwise not performing its intended function. For example, the spring 115 may be a coil spring as shown, and the extension 135 may be a rod-shaped body inserted through the center of the spring 115 to support the spring 115. Alternatively, the spring 115 may be any other type of spring (such as a leaf spring or a compression spring).

The support 120 may include a base 140 serving as a mass against which the spring is urged to bias the main body 110 and the locking hook 132 outwardly to the closed position. The abutment may be any mechanism that performs this function, and in one embodiment includes a flat or recessed part that receives the spring 115 to prevent the spring 115 from detaching from the support 120 or the extension 135.

The end cover 105 may include a first cam surface 145 that contacts the second cam surface 150 of the support 120 when the user rotates the handle of the accessory to unlock the latch 100. For example, the first cam surface 145 and the second cam surface 150 may be inclined, and when the latch 100 is rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position, the first cam surface 145 and the second cam surface 150 are engaged with each other. In doing so, as shown in FIG. 6, the first cam surface 145 is used as a lever or pry head against the second cam surface 150 to apply a force from the component 125 to the cam surface 130. This allows the user to unlock the latch 100 and the attachment more comfortably without effort.

The end cap 105 may further include a protruding piece 155 that can be inserted into the hole 160 to further couple the end cap 105 and the support 120 together. In one embodiment, the protruding piece 155 is movably disposed in a hole 160 that serves as a guide for the movement of the end cap 105 relative to the support 120. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the protruding piece 155 can rotate freely in the hole 160, the protruding piece 155 can prevent the lateral movement of the end cap 105 and the handle further.

In some embodiments, the latch 100 may include a protrusion 165 that serves as a male member that can be inserted into the internal female member of the accessory. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the end cap 105 may include a protrusion 165 that fits frictionally or interferencely in the opening of the accessory. In this manner, the latch 100 may be coupled to the accessory, and utilizing a forward pull allows the handle of the accessory to operate and unlock the latch 100. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, any other way may be implemented to couple the latch 100 to a handle or accessory.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front portion 170 may include an opening 175 that connects the latch 100 to the accessory in a structure such as a friction fit, an interference fit, or a snap fit. The front portion 170 may also include a handle 180, which can be pulled to rotate the end cap 105, and in doing so, disengage the hook 132 from the opening on the lock plate or other object, thereby unlocking the latch and allowing The attachment is opened. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the front portion of the handle 180 may be coupled to or integrated with the drawer body 185. However, as used herein, the term "accessory" does not have to be limited to a drawer, which may be, for example, a cabinet, door, drawer, box, or any other accessory.

4 and 5 illustrate the front of the latch 100 and the handle 180 inserted in the drawer body 185. As shown, the front of the latch 100 and the handle 180 may be coupled together and then inserted into the drawer body 185 in a known manner (such as a snap fit, interference fit, friction fit, or other coupling engagement). . Alternatively, the front portions of the latch 100 and the handle 180 may be welded, glued, or otherwise coupled to the drawer body 185.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the latch 100 can be unlocked by pulling the handle 180 and then rotating the handle 180 to the end cover 105. The first surface 145 (of the end cap 105) will then engage the second surface 150 (of the support 120) to apply a prying action and rotate the end cap 105 more easily. Then the end cap 105 can move the main body 110 inwardly against the bias of the spring 115, The lock hook 132 is thus disengaged by pushing the part 125 of the end cover 105 against the cam surface 130 of the main body 110. Therefore, the user can apply an outward pulling force on the handle 180 to disengage the lock hook 132 from the opening of the lock plate, the cabinet or other components, and unlock or lock the latch 100 according to the user's choice.

As used herein, the term "coupling" and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to a direct, mechanical coupling of two or more elements. Rather, the term "coupled" and its functional equivalent is intended to mean any direct or indirect, mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and / or environmental objects. In some embodiments, "connected" is also intended to mean the integration of one object with another.

The contents of the lock in the foregoing description and drawings are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Although specific embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the broad aspects of the inventor's contribution. When viewed from a suitable perspective based on the prior art, the actual scope of protection required is defined by the scope of the patent application below.

Claims (17)

A latch includes: an end cap having a component; a main body having a cam surface of the main body engaged with the component, when the component abuts the cam surface, the main body moves linearly inward; the main body also includes a locking hook The hook is adapted to engage or disengage the opening based on the linear movement of the body; the spring is adapted to bias the body in an outward direction; and the support is adapted to receive the body and has a base adapted to receive the spring, To bias the body in the outward direction. The latch of claim 1, wherein the body further includes an extension adapted to receive the spring. The latch according to claim 2, wherein the extension is rod-shaped, inserted through the center of the spring along the central axis of the spring. The latch of claim 1, wherein the end cover includes a first cam surface and the support member includes a second cam surface, wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are engaged with each other when the end cover rotates. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the end cover includes a protruding piece adapted to prevent lateral movement of the end cover, the support member includes a hole adapted to receive the protruding piece, and When the end cap rotates, the projecting piece is movably disposed in the hole. The latch of claim 1, wherein the base includes a groove adapted to receive the spring. The latch of claim 1, wherein the end cap includes a protrusion adapted to be coupled to an accessory. An accessory suitable for opening and closing, including: a latch, including: an end cover having a component; a main body having a cam surface of the main body engaged with the component, when the component abuts the cam surface, the main body moves linearly inward The body also includes a lock hook adapted to engage or disengage the opening based on the linear movement of the body; a spring adapted to bias the body in an outward direction; and a support adapted to receive the body, and There is a base adapted to receive the spring to bias the body in an outward direction; a handle coupled to the latch at the end cap; and an accessory body adapted to receive the handle and the latch. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the body further includes an extension adapted to receive the spring. The accessory according to claim 9, wherein the extension is rod-shaped, and extends through the center of the spring along the central axis of the spring. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the end cover includes a first cam surface and the support member includes a second cam surface, wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are engaged with each other when the end cover rotates. The accessory according to claim 8, wherein the end cover includes a protruding piece adapted to prevent lateral movement of the end cover, the support member includes a hole adapted to receive the protruding piece, and The protrusion piece is movably disposed in the hole during the rotation of the end cap. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the base includes a groove adapted to receive the spring. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the end cap includes a protrusion coupled to the accessory. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the end cap is coupled to the handle, and movement of the handle causes rotation of the end cap. The accessory of claim 15, wherein movement of the handle causes the component of the end cap to rotate against the body cam surface of the body, thereby causing the body to move linearly inward, disengaging the lock hook from the opening. A method for opening an accessory, comprising: providing a latch, including an end cap having a component, a body having a cam surface of a body engaged with the component; when the component abuts the cam surface, the body moves linearly inward; It also includes a lock hook, a spring and a support member adapted to engage or disengage the opening based on the linear movement of the body, the spring is adapted to bias the body in an outward direction, the support member is adapted to receive the body and There is a base that is adapted to receive the spring to bias the body in an outward direction; rotate the handle coupled to the end cap; in response to rotating the handle, disengage the lock hook from the opening.